Do You Talk too Much?

Then here is one of the most powerful leadership principles you can learn:

… talk less, ask more questions and listen with wisdom.

We could end this blog right there.

I am a people person. I like to communicate. I am an external processor, therefore talking helps me understand. So I am definitely challenged to talk less and listen more. That may not be the way God built you, but this principle still applies!

As leaders, we feel we need to talk. We need to have the answers. We need to guide and instruct. We need to encourage. We need to cast vision. In other words, we need to talk. We can also let our self-importance drive our behavior, which often results in needing to hear ourselves talk.

Two weeks ago, WorkMatters held a Vision 2020 Board Retreat in the Walmart Museum World Room. In the weeks preceding the meeting, but especially in the meeting, I listened. We listened. And the results of asking hard questions and giving our Board the freedom to talk produced results that exceeded our expectations.

There are many people around you at work that have knowledge and wisdom and ideas and feedback. What would it look like for you to rethink your communication approach so you can discover more ideas and receive more feedback?

Starting today and into next week ask yourself these questions:

How can I be intentional about asking important questions?

Who do I want to ask those questions of?

Most importantly, how can I be an active listener? How can I “listen with wisdom”?

I am amazed at how God communicates through other people if we will listen with wisdom. The Bible says it simply in Proverbs 23:12 (NLT): Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Take advantage of the talent, experience, perspective and wisdom of the people you trust, and watch your work flourish!

David Roth has been the president and CEO of Workmatters since October, 2003. Workmatters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in Northwest Arkansas in 2003 with a mission is to help people pursue God’s purpose for their work. Since then, Workmatters has been used to impact thousands of leaders in Northwest Arkansas and across the U.S. Prior to leading Workmatters, Mr. Roth was vice president, sales and marketing for J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Before joining J.B. Hunt in 1999, David was the senior vice president of marketing for Manugistics, a supply chain management software provider in Maryland and vice president of marketing for American Software in Atlanta, Ga. He also has nine years of supply chain management experience with McKesson Corporation in San Francisco, Calif. and Harrison, Ark. David has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas. He resides in Fayetteville, Ark. with his wife, Theresa and has two sons, Dylan and Tyler.